Northern Stars Dance Competition

Performance Levels

Determining Performance Level:
Teachers are asked to use their discretion and place dancers at an appropriate performance level based on guidelines below. Northern Stars reserves the right to move dancers to a higher performance level if they’ve been misplaced. Northern Stars will NOT move dancers to a lower performance level.

Novice

• Solo: never competed in a solo, no more than one year of competitive experience in group routines
• Duo/Trio: 2 or 3 have never competed
• Groups: majority have never competed

Competitive

• Dancers who dance 5 hours/week or less or have competed for 3 years or less

Advanced Competitive

• Dancers who dance more than 5 hours/week or have competed for more than 3 years

High School

• Groups only will be accepted at this level
• Solos and Duo/Trios entered by a high school must compete at either the novice, competitive or advanced competitive performance level

University

• Groups only will be accepted at this level
• Solos and Duo/Trios entered by a university must compete at either the novice, competitive or advanced competitive performance level

Professional/Teacher

• Dancers who have graduated from high school and earn wages as either performers or teachers of dance
• Dancers competing at this performance level do not qualify for overall awards

Adult

• For fun only
• Family routines may enter in this category
• Dancers competing at this performance level do not qualify for overall awards

Age Divisions

Age division is determined by calculating the average age of the dancer(s) as of December 31st in the year preceding the competitions. Solo dancers will compete in individual age categories (i.e. 9yrs, 12yrs, 16yrs). The age divisions are as follows:

• Tyke: 4-6
• Mini: 7-8
• Petite: 9-10
• Junior: 11-12
• Intermediate: 13-14
• Teen: 15-16
• Senior: 17-18
• Adult 19-29
• Adult 30+

Entry Divisions and Time Limits

Entry divisions and time limits are as follows:

• Solos: max. 3 minutes
• Duos/Trios: max. 3 minutes
• Small Groups (4-9 dancers): max. 4 minutes
• Large Groups (10-15 dancers): max. 4 minutes
• Line (16+ dancers): max. 5 minutes
• Production (minimum 12 dancers): 5-10 minutes

Time Limits are created for scheduling purposes. Northern Stars MUST be notified at least 30 days prior to the competition if any routine will exceed the time limits listed above. (Please remember to include time needed for set-up of props, etc.).

Dance Categories

• Jazz – Standard Jazz. This category includes: jazz technique, jazz floor work and jazz partnering work. Props, lip sync, vocalization and acrobatics must be limited.
• Lyrical – An emotive dance style which reflects the story line of a piece of music, or the mood or tone of the sound. Ballet & jazz technique may be included. Acrobatics must be limited.
• Tap – Any routine in which tap shoes are worn. This category includes: tap technique, props and partnering work. Pre-recorded tap sounds are not permitted. Acrobatics, vocalization and lip sync must be limited.
• Ballet – Standard demi-pointe ballet or character ballet. This category includes classical ballet technique, props and partnering work. Acrobatic tricks, vocalization and lip sync are not permitted.
• Pointe – Any routine in which pointe shoes are worn. This category includes classical ballet technique en pointe, props and partnering work. Acrobatic tricks, vocalization and lip sync are not permitted.
• Modern – Any routine that is interpretive and is not standard ballet or jazz. Movement should be derived from the expression of a feeling or emotion.
• Acro – Any routine that features gymnastics or tumbling moves.
• Aerial Acro – An Acro performance using a prop that includes: Aerial Hoop, Silks, Trapeze, Rope, Weggsphere, etc. Aerial Acro and Acro are combined for the top Acro discipline awards.
• Musical Theatre – Any routine portraying a recognizable character or a routine reflecting a Broadway show or musical. This category includes lip sync, props and partnering work.
• Song & Dance – Any routine which includes singing and dancing.
• Hip Hop – Urban street style dance including Breakdance, Locking & Popping.
• Contemporary – A combination of modern, jazz and lyrical techniques with ballet fundamentals. Emphasizing artistic expression and unique choreography. Props, lip sync, vocalization & acrobatic moves must be limited.
• Open – Any routine which does not belong to any one of the aforementioned categories. Ethnic dances should be entered here.

Scoring & Awards

Judges will give a total score out of one hundred. Fifty points will be allotted to Technique including but not limited to: difficulty, execution, choreography, uniqueness, synchronization. Another fifty points will be allotted to Performance including but not limited to: innovation, creativity, musicality, projection, stage presence and overall impression.

Scores from a panel of three judges will be averaged and then calculated to three decimal points. Every entry receives an award based on the average score achieved.

Awards vary depending on performance level and are determined based on the following scoring systems:

Novice

• Sapphire: average score up to 80.999
• Emerald: average score 81-83.999
• Diamond: average score 84-86.999
• Star Diamond: average score 87-89.999
• Super Nova: average score 90+

Competitive

• Sapphire: average score up to 83.999
• Emerald: average score 84-86.999
• Diamond: average score 87-89.999
• Star Diamond: average score 90-92.999
• Super Nova: average score 93+

Advanced Competitive

• Sapphire: average score up to 86.999
• Emerald: average score 87-89.999
• Diamond: average score 90-92.999
• Star Diamond: average score 93-94.999
• Super Nova: average score 95+

Dancers competing at the High School, University or Parents performance level will be scored using the Competitive scoring system. Dancers competing at the Professional/Teacher performance level will be scored using the Advanced Competitive scoring system.

Special awards created by our Special Awards Judge will also be awarded at every adjudication. Adjudicator comments will be provided on DVD through Video Judge.

Overall Awards

• 1st place overall winners receive a scholarship and a custom NSDC crystal trophy.
• 2nd – 5th place overall winners receive a custom NSDC crystal trophy.

Overalls will be awarded in the following categories up to fifth overall. However, Northern Stars reserves the right to limit the number of overalls in each category based on the total number of entries in each:

12 years & Under Novice, Competitive, Advanced Competitive

• Solo
• Soloist
• Duet/Trio
• Small Group/Large Group/Line
• Best Choreography
• Best Costume

13 years & Older Novice, Competitive, Advanced Competitive

• Solo
• Soloist
• Duet/Trio
• Small Group/Large Group/Line
• Best Choreography
• Best Costume
• Overall Production
• Overall High School Group and Overall University/College Group will also be awarded of there are 8 or more entries in the category.

Highest Overall Score in each of the following disciplines will be awarded for each Age Division. Winners of these awards will receive a custom NSDC crystal trophy.

• Jazz
• Tap
• Lyrical/Contemporary/Modern
• Ballet/Pointe
• Acro/Aerial
• Musical Theatre/Song & Dance
• Hip Hop
• Open

In the event of a tie for an overall award both entries will be awarded the full value of the award.

The Valerie Copeland Memorial Award

The winner of this overall award is determined by a dance-off that will take place right before the final adjudication. Ten group routines will qualify to compete for this prestigious award. The finalists will be selected based on their Performance scores not their Technique scores.

We’re hoping to answer your questions before you even ask them! Please find below some of the most common questions we hear at NSDC.

Q: What is amethyst?

A: Amethyst is a precious stone. It has a purple colour which is why we’re so fond of it here at Northern Stars!

Q: What are Performance Levels?

A: Performance Levels are used to categorize dancers by their experience and ability. The three Performance Levels used at Northern Stars are Novice, Competitive and Advanced Competitive.

Q: How is the Performance Level determined?

A: Studio directors are asked to use their discretion and select a Performance Level for their dancers based on the following guidelines:

Novice (beginner dancers)

Solo – Dancer has never competed in a solo & has no more than 1 year of competitive experience in group routines.

Duet/Trio – Two or three of the dancers have never competed in either solo, D/T or group routines.

Group – First year of competitive dance for most of the dancers in the group.

Competitive (intermediate dancers)

Dancers who dance 5 hours per week or less and/or have been competing for 3 years or less.

Advanced Competitive (advanced dancers)

Dancers who dance more than 5 hours per week and/or have been competing for more than 3 years.

Northern Stars reserves the right to move dancers to a higher Performance Level if they’ve been misplaced. We will NOT move dancers to a lower Performance Level once the competition has started so please take care when submitting your entry information.

Q: Why choose Northern Stars Dance Competition?

1) The BEST staff around! Friendly, accommodating and helpful – At NSDC every dancer, studio, teacher and parent is important to us.

2) Up to 175 Overalls awarded at every competition including cash prizes & scholarship awards.

3) Our lively, fun & encouraging emcee will keep you entertained all weekend.

4) Professional venues.

5) More than just ribbons! At NSDC, dancers receive beautiful crystal trophies for each routine.

6) Qualified, well-balanced adjudicator panels & a dedicated Special Awards Judge.

7) Video Judge commentary & videos available online right away & DVDs mailed directly to your studio.

8) Lots of giveaways & door prizes + studio directors gift bags.

9) Organized and always on-time!

10) All the small things – We put a lot of effort into the little details when planning our events to ensure a fun and fair competition experience that you’ll always treasure.

11) The Northern Stars DANCE OFF! An unforgettable & exciting part of every weekend, the Valerie Copeland Memorial Award is our top honour!

Q: How does the Scoring System work at NSDC?

The NSDC scoring system varies depending on the Performance Level of the dancers.

Novice dancers can earn our Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire & Amethyst awards with lower scores than the Competitive dancers need. And in the same way, Competitive dancers can earn these awards with lower scores than the Advanced Competitive dancers need.

For example, a dancer receives a total score of 88/100.

If the dancer is Novice, he/she would receive a Diamond award.

If the dancer is Competitive, he/she would receive an Emerald award.

If the dancer is Advanced Competitive, he/she would receive an Sapphire award.

Please visit our Scoring & Awards page to see the full scoring systems used at Northern Stars.

Q: Does every dancer receive an award?

A: Absolutely! Every routine & every dancer will receive an award for each of their routines.

Q: How many overall awards are given at each competition?

A: Northern Stars awards overall prizes at each of our Performance Levels. The total number of overalls awarded depends on the number of entries in each overall category. Typically, 175 overalls are awarded at each weekend.

Q: A dancer is competing in a solo category for the first time but has previously competed in duet/trio and/or group routines. Should their solo be entered at the Novice Performance Level?

A: Yes, so long as the dancer has no more than one year of previous competitive experience. If the dancer has competed in duet/trio and/or group routines for more than one year, their solo would not be considered Novice.

Q: As a dance parent, where can I find the schedule for the weekend and when will it be available?

A: Please contact your Studio Director for scheduling information.

The first draft of the schedule is sent to the Studio Directors one month before the competition. Once we’ve received corrections, updates and quick-change conflicts back from each studio, we create a revised schedule and send the final version back to the Studio Directors. Our goal is to have the final schedule back to the studios no later than one week prior to the competition.

Q: My dancer(s) won’t be able to compete on Fri/Sat/Sun due to another event or commitment. Can Northern Stars accommodate their schedule?

A: At NSDC we do our very best to accommodate your scheduling requests. However, in order to maintain a fair and conflict-free schedule for ALL studios, it’s not always possible & we appreciate your understanding in this matter.

Q: Can Northern Stars mail/deliver our trophies to the studio?

A: Unfortunately, NSDC is not able to mail or deliver awards. Please make sure a studio representative is present at each adjudication & at the overall awards ceremony.

Still have a question? We’d be happy to hear from you so give us a call, send us an email or even write us a letter! You can find our contact info by clicking here.